Leo bishop of Demetrias (tenth century)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross (an X at the intersection of the lower bar) with pellets at each end. It stands on three "reversed" steps: the larger on top, the smaller at the bottom) that rest on a globe; tendrils arising from base beyond first crossbar. In upper field, the inscription: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅ : Ἰησοῦς Χριστός. Along a border of dots, part of a circular inscription.

...Ο..Τ..ΟΔΟΥΛΟ

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σο δούλο

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

ΛΕΟΝΤΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΔΙΜΗΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ

Λέοντι ἐπισκόπῳ Διμητριάδος

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σο δούλο Λέοντι ἐπισκόπῳ Διμητριάδος.

Lord, help your servant Leo, bishop of Demetrias.

Commentary

The modern Demetrias, 2 km to the southwest of and opposite Volos. Important port of the Pagasetikos, attested throughout the Middle Ages, repeatedly sacked by the Arabs and the Bulgarians in the 10th-11th centuries. It had its own administration, an archon, and was the seat of a bishop, suffragan of Larissa, first mentioned in the 5th century.